Steel space heater construction



July 30, 1963 H. D. DU FAULT STEEL SPACE HEATER CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 15, 1960 mum.;

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sTEEL SPACE HEATER CONSTRUCTION Filed July 15. 1960 s sheets-Sheet s United States Patent O 3,699,257 STEEL SPACE HEATER CONSTRUCTIN Horner D. Du Fault, Easthampton, Mass., assigner to Heatlbatll Manufacturing Company, Inc., indian Orchard, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed July 15, 1960, Ser. No. 43,212 2 Claims. (Cl. 126-90) The present invention relates to improvements in space heaters of the type which are installed in a semipermanent fashion to heat a single room or a relatively localized area.

The object of the invention is to reduce the cost and simplify the maintenance of such space heaters and at the same time increase the efficiency with which the fuel is used in heating the area in which the space heater is installed.

The above and other related objects, as well as the constructional features of the invention, will be apparent from a reading of the following description of the disclosure found in the accompanying drawings and the novelty thereof pointed out in the appended claims.

ln the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation, with portions broken away and in section, of a space heater embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the space heater;

FIG. 3 is an exploded end elevation with portions cut away and in section; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the space heater with its cabinet removed and portions thereof broken away and in section.

With reference to the drawings, and particularly FIG. 3 thereof, the present space heater comprises three basic sheet metal members which are pre-assembled as units capable of easy assembly and disassembly. The three sheet metal units comprise a cabinet 16, a firebox 12 and a frame 14.

The cabinet 19 comprises a rectangular welded sheet metal frame having inturned fianges 16 (FIGS. 1 and 3) defining an opening in the front panel thereof. Sides 1S of the cabinet are illustrated as solid sheet metal walls or panels, while an opening 2t) in the top panel of the cabinet is closed off by a sheet 22 (FIG. 4) of perforated metal. lnturned flanges 24 define the rear edges of the side panels 1S, while inturned flanges 26 define the lower edges of the said side panels 18. A U-shaped sheet metal channel 23 (FIG. l) extends between the upper and lower flanges 16. A cross channel member 3i) extends between the left hand flange 16 and the vertical channel 28. A sheet of perforated metal 32 fills the opening between left hand flange 16 and the channel 2S. The sheet metal 32 is secured to the front portion of the top fiange 16, trained behind the channel 3@ and then secured to the front portion of the lower flange 16 for decorative purposes. It will also be noted that a louvered door 34 fills the opening between the channel 28 and the right hand flange 16 being pivoted at 35 relative to the upper and lower flanges 16.

The firebox 12 (FIG. 3) is a welded sheet metal assembly open at its lower front end to receive the combustion products of an open flame burner 36. lInternal baffles 38 and 40 create a reverse path of ow of the heated gases and a maximum transfer of heat to the outer walls of the firebox. The heated gases will pass through a flanged discharge opening in the form of an outlet pipe 42 to a flue box, later described.

The frame 14 comprises a base plate 44 which is folded upwardly at its rear edge to form a back plate 46. An angle plate or gusset 48 (see also FIG. 4) is welded along the right hand marginal edge portions of the base plate 44 and back plate 46. A side plate Sil is also welded to ice the bottom plate 44 and back plate 46 adjacent the opposite ends thereof. An intermediate vertical divider plate 52 is welded to the back plate 46 and a tie plate 54 extends between and is welded to inturned flanges of the side plate 50 and divider plate 52. The divider plate 52 separates the frame member into a heater area which receives the firebox 12 and burner 36 and a controls area in which a control unit is mounted, as will later appear.

lChannel members S6 run parallel to and adjacent the front and rear edges of the bottom plate 44. A pair of legs 58 underlie the channels 56 and are secured thereto to support the frame 14 is well as the firebox 12 and cabinet 16 when the latter two units are mounted in place. An angle member 60 is secured to the front face of the front channel 56. The angle 60 is spaced above the base plate 44 a distance somewhat greater than the thickness of an inturned lip 62 (FIG. 3) running along the bottom edge of the cabinet 10 for purposes which later appear. An opening 64 is formed in the back plate 46 to more or less snugly receive the outlet pipe 42 on the firebox 12. On the rear of the back plate 46 is secured a ue box 66 into which the hole 64 opens. The flue box 66 is open at its lower end and is provided with a circular rim 63 defining an opening in its upper wall for attachment to a flue pipe (not shown).

ln assembling the above-described units, the firebox 12 is mounted on a pair of posts 70 which project upwardly from and are secured to the front channel 56 (see also FIG. 2). The front wall of the firebox 12 is outwardly iianged and apertured to receive the reduced upper ends of the post 70. Nuts 72 rigidly secure the front portion of the firebox 12 relative to the frame 14. The outlet pipe 42 of the firebox is projected through the hole 64 and rests on the lower edge thereof. It will be seen that the firebox is supported in part by the base plate 44 and in part by the back plate 46. An angle strap 74 is welded to the back panel 46 above the hole 64 and apertured to receive a sheet metal screw 75 which will pass therethrough and thread into the outlet pipe 42 thereby positively locating the firebox 12 in a fore and aft sense relative to the frame 14.

There are few repairs which will require removal of the fire-box 12 from the lframe 14. However, if the need should ever occur, it is a simple and easy matter. Of greater importance is the ease of mounting the rebox in its original assembly. This facility a-dds to the savings that are possible in the cost of manufacturing the present space heater.

The burner 36 is preferably, but not necessarily, of the open flame type being `disposed in the bottom opening (seen in FIG. 3) running along the lower front portion of the rebox 12. The burner 36 is held in place by brackets 79 secured to the end walls of the lirebox 12. Secured to the ldivider plate 52 is a sheet metal bracket 86 (FIG. 4) on which is mounted a thermostatic control unit 82. A pipe S4 (FIG. 2) connects the control unit 82 with a supply line lfor natural or artificial gas. A tube 86 leads from the -control unit S2 to the burner 36 and a tube 88 also leads therefrom to a pilot light in the lburner 36. It will be noted that the control knobs for the control unit 82 lie behind the `door 34 and are readily accessible for adjustment simply by opening the door 34.

The cabinet 1t) is readily mounted on the frame 14 by sliding the flan-ges '26 (see FIG. 4) thereof over and along the marginal side edge portions of the base plate 44. As this is done, just slightly before the flanges 24 engage the back plate 46, the lip 62 (at the lower front edge of the cabinet) will be caught beneath the angle member 60 thereby anchoring the front portion of the cabinet relative to the frame. Four sheet rnetal screws 76 pass through openings provided in the back plate 46 and are threaded into the flanges 24 thereby effectively anchoring ..9 the rear portion of the cabinet relative to the frame 14.

The simplicity and ease of `assembly is apparent from the fact that the cabinet can be mounted or disassembled simply by inserting or removing the four screws '76. This, of course, reduces the costs of original manufacture and simplifies later repairs. Minor repairs and adjustments can lbe readily made by opening the door 34 to gain access to the controls area of the space heater.

It will, of course, be appreciated that the thickness of the various sheet metal parts has been exaggerated to some extent in the drawings for the sake of clarity. it has been found that Ifor most items a relatively light gauge metal can be used so that the overall cost of the present space heater is considerably reduced when compared with space heaters of conventional construction. In this regard particular note is taken of the yiirebox 12. and the manner in which it is mounted.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as novel and desired to be secu-red by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A space heater comprising a unitary frame member having rectangular :base and back plates, the back plate having an opening adjacent the upper end thereof and a iiue box supported on the rear face of the back plate communicating With said opening, an internally baffled sheet metal iire box having a front wall defining in part a bottom opening therefor and an outlet pipe at the upper rear portion thereof, said ybase plate having upstanding legs adjacent the `front thereof, the said outlet pipe of the fire box extending into said back plate opening and detachably secured therein for supporting the rear of the lire lbox, and the said legs of the base detachably secured to the said front wall of the lire box for supporting the box at the front thereof in an elevatedl position above the base, and a cabinet having top, front, and side panels with the side panels thereof being slidably supported on said base plate, and fastening means detachably securing the cabinet side panels to the said back plate.

2. A space heater comprising a unitary 1frame member having sheet metal rectangular base and back plate portions bent at right angles to each other, the `back plate portion having an opening adjacent the upper end thereof and a iluebox' supported on the rear face of the back plate communicating with said opening, a sheet metal vertical divider plate portion secured to said back ulate and extending forwardly therefrom to separate the frame member into a heater area and a controls area, the latter being of lesser Widthwise extent, an internally baied sheet metal lire box `disposed in said heater area and having a front Wall dening in part a bottom opening therefor and an outlet pipe at the upper rear portion thereof, said base plate having a reinforcing channel member rwith opstanding legs fastened thereto adjacent the front thereof in said heater area, the said outlet pipe of the tire box extending into said back plate opening and detachably secured therein for supporting the rear of the re box, and the said legs of the base detachably secured to the said front Wall of the iire box for supporting the box at the front thereof in an elevated position above the base, said fire box having mounted therein a fuel burner unit in said bottom opening, a controls unit mounted on sai-d divider plate and connected with and controlling ow of fuel to said burner unit, -means bracing said base, back and divider plate portions including an end wall dening with said divider plate the said heater area of the frame, a cabinet having top, front and side panels with the side panels thereof being slidalbly supported on said base plate, fastening means detachably securing the cabinet side panels to the said back plate, the front and top cabinet panel portions coextensive with said heater area of the lframe being of open Work construction and said front panel having access door mounted in front of said controls area.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,807,014 Sanford May 26, 1931 2,241,025 Wedderspoon May 6, 1941 2,262,158 Beam Nov. 11, y1941 2,279,975 Evans Apr. 14, 1942 2,302,235 Martin Nov. 17, 1942 2,386,160 Georg Oct. 2, 1945 2,396,939 Brown Mar. 19, 1946 2,620,940 Ginter Dec. 9, 1952 2,632,435- Lundstrum May 24, 1953 2,716,405 Nelson Aug. 30, 1955 2,960,085 Du Fault Nov. 15, 1960 

1. A SPACE HEATER COMPRISING A UNITARY FRAME MEMBER HAVING RECTANGULAR BASE AND BACK PLATES, THE BACK PLATE HAVING AN OPENING ADJACENT THE UPPER END THEREOF AND A FLUE BOX SUPPORTED ON THE REAR FACE OF THE BACK PLATE COMMUNICATING WITH SAID OPENING, AN INTERNALLY BAFFLED SHEET METAL FIRE BOX HAVING A FRONT WALL DEFINING IN PART A BOTTOM OPENING THEREFOR AND AN OUTLET PIPE AT THE UPPER REAR PORTION THEROF, SAID BASE PLATE HAVING UPSTANDING LEGS ADJACENT THE FRONT THEREOF, THE SAID OUTLET PIPE OF THE FIRE BOX EXTENDING INTO SAID BACK PLATE OPENING AND DETACHABLE SECURED THEREIN FOR SUPPORTING THE REAR OF THE FIRE BOX, AND THE SAID LEGS OF THE BASE DETACHABLY SECURED TO THE SAID FRONT WALL OF THE FIRE BOX FOR SUPPORTING THE BOX AT THE FRONT THEREOF IN AN ELEVATED POSITION ABOVE THE BASE, AND A CABINET HAVING TOP, FRONT, AND SIDE PANELS WITH THE SIDE PANELS THEREOF BEING SLIDABLY SUPPORTED ON SAID BASE PLATE, AND FASTENING MEANS DETACHABLY SECURING THE CABINET SIDE PANELS TO THE SAID BACK PLATE. 